Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Michel Pichon, Heloise Rouze, Sebastien Villeger, Gergely Torda, Pim Bongaerts, Jeremey Carlot, Valeriano Parravicini, Laetitia Hedouin
Summary: This study quantitatively examined the α and β generic diversity of coral reefs across a wide depth gradient in French Polynesia, and found that the mesophotic coral ecosystems host higher diversity than shallow reefs. It also found that increasing depth increases the differences in coral genus composition across islands.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Alejandra Hernandez-Agreda, Pim Bongaerts, Heloise Rouze, Michel Pichon, Jeremy Carlot, Gergely Torda, Under The Pole Consortium, Valeriano Parravicini, Laetitia Hedouin
Summary: The rapid decline of shallow coral reefs has increased interest in the understudied mesophotic coral ecosystems. This study found high coral cover hotspots at mesophotic depths in French Polynesia, characterized by hard substrate, steep to moderate slopes, and the dominance of laminar corals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Fabio Bulleri, Chloe Pozas-Schacre, Hugo Bischoff, Lorenzo Bramanti, Stephanie D'agata, Julien Gasc, Maggy M. Nugues
Summary: This study examined the effects of physical disturbance and increased diadematid densities on macroalgae. It found that even with an increase in diadematid densities, it is unlikely to reduce the extent of macroalgal stands in the back reefs of Moorea, unless other herbivore guilds capable of removing adult macroalgae recover.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yip Hung Yeung, James Y. Xie, Chun Kit Kwok, Keith Kei, Put Ang, Leo Lai Chan, Walter Dellisanti, Chi Chiu Cheang, Wing Kuen Chow, Jian-Wen Qiu
Summary: The study identified five community types in Hong Kong's coral communities, with the most common one dominated by massive and upward-plating corals. Coral cover and generic richness were negatively correlated with water quality parameters, indicating constraints on the development of coral communities. Management actions are recommended to reduce bioerosion and monitor sites affected by bleaching.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Erika C. Johnston, Scott C. Burgess
Summary: Pocillopora tuahiniensis sp. nov. is a newly described species based on genetic data, geographic isolation, and distribution pattern. It is similar in appearance to other species but can be distinguished by sequencing a specific gene region. The species has been sampled at multiple locations in the Pacific, with a high abundance observed on the fore reefs of Mo'orea.
Article
Demography
Maelle Calandra, Jean Wencelius, Rakamaly Madi Moussa, Camille Gache, Cecile Berthe, Viliame Waqalevu, Pascal Ung, Franck Lerouvreur, Tamatoa Bambridge, Rene Galzin, Frederic Bertucci, David Lecchini
Summary: This transdisciplinary study focuses on the socio-ecological mechanisms at play in the alteration of Moorea's coastline, highlighting the controversial community-wide economic, social, and ecological impacts of private-based developments and the broader economic and political contexts driving the progressive armoring of the coastline.
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Heloise Rouze, Gergely Torda, Pim Bongaerts, Michel Pichon, Valeriano Parravicini, Laetitia Hedouin
Summary: The study showed that the probability of coral bleaching decreases with depth, especially in lower mesophotic depths of 60 meters or more where little to no bleaching was observed. Corals vary in their sensitivity to depth, with depth-generalist corals benefiting more from increasing depth compared to depth-specialists. The reduction of bleaching with depth was found to be more related to light-irradiance attenuation than temperature.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julien Gasc, Camille Gache, Frederic Bertucci, Rakamaly Madi Moussa, Viliame Waqalevu, David Lecchini
Summary: The study revealed that reefs along different shoreline types serve as nursery areas for specific fish species, with sandy beaches being the most suitable nursery areas. Human activities altering coastlines may have negative impacts on reef ecosystems and the balance of marine biodiversity.
JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frederic Bertucci, William E. Feeney, Zara-Louise Cowan, Camille Gache, Rakamaly Madi Moussa, Cecile Berthe, Lana Minier, Tamatoa Bambridge, David Lecchini
Summary: During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the decline in coastal activities in French Polynesia led to an increase in fish density around the island of Moorea. Juvenile and adult fish, including harvested species, showed significantly higher densities after the end of the lockdown compared to previous years. The study suggests that short-term reductions in human activity can benefit coastal fish communities and calls for future management policies to minimize human impact on coastline habitats.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isael Victoria-Salazar, Edgar J. Gonzalez, Jorge A. Meave, Miguel-Angel Ruiz-Zarate, Hector A. Hernandez-Arana
Summary: Understanding the mechanisms that maintain the permanence of coral reefs and the constancy of their characteristics is crucial to mitigate the effects of ongoing environmental changes. A study on a partially affected patch reef after a ship grounding incident revealed that the impacted and non-impacted sectors displayed different successional trajectories, with the former dominated by fleshy algae. This degraded state, characterized by high stability and resilience, is likely due to the strong ability of fleshy algae to monopolize space and the low recovery potential of corals.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Lana Minier, Xavier Raick, Emma Gairin, Tehani Maueau, Vincent Sturny, Eric Blin, Eric Parmentier, Frederic Bertucci, David Lecchini
Summary: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that different habitats in coral reefs have specific soundscapes. Through acoustic recordings and visual surveys, it was found that each geomorphological unit could be characterized by specific acoustic parameters and had a unique acoustic signature. The study also highlighted the positive correlation between higher living coral cover and low-frequency peak frequency during the day, and the significant differences in fish communities and soundscapes between sites. Overall, the study emphasized the importance of passive acoustics in coral reef monitoring due to the habitat-specific nature of the soundscapes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deniz Disa, Matthias Munnich, Meike Vogt, Nicolas Gruber
Summary: The interplay between ocean circulation and coral metabolism creates highly variable biogeochemical conditions in space and time across tropical coral reefs. By simulating these variations using a coupled model, we find that coral reefs have complex spatial and temporal structures, and different biogeochemical niches may have significant impacts on the health of corals.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Verena Schoepf, Justin H. Baumann, Daniel J. Barshis, Nicola K. Browne, Emma F. Camp, Steeve Comeau, Christopher E. Cornwall, Hector M. Guzman, Bernhard Riegl, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Brigitte Sommer
Summary: The worldwide decline of coral reefs has led to renewed interest in coral communities at the edge of environmental limits. These communities have potential to function as resilience hotspots and climate change refugia, providing insights into future coral reef conditions. However, inconsistent definitions and usage of terms like "marginal" and "extreme" have posed challenges for categorizing and synthesizing data about these poorly studied communities. Therefore, a new conceptual framework is proposed to redefine marginal and extreme coral communities based on environmental conditions and ecological criteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Derek Soto, Stephane De Palmas, Ming-Jay Ho, Vianney Denis, Chaolun Allen Chen
Summary: This study characterized the diversity of coral recruits in mesophotic and shallow reefs in Ludao, Taiwan, showing that 40% of recruits were exclusively found in mesophotic reefs while 20% were shared between depth zones. The findings support the idea of mesophotic reefs serving as a refuge for shallow reef corals, although Acropora and Isopora recruits exhibited exceptions to this hypothesis by being structured across depth zones.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. A. Abdul Wahab, S. Ferguson, V. K. Snekkevik, G. McCutchan, S. Jeong, A. Severati, C. J. Randall, A. P. Negri, G. Diaz-Pulido
Summary: This study tested the larval settlement responses of 15 coral species to 15 species of crustose coralline algae from the Great Barrier Reef. The results showed that CCA in the family Lithophyllaceae were the best inducers for most coral species. Taxonomic and habitat-specific associations were found, providing optimal coral-algal species pairings to increase the success of larval settlement for reef restoration.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Deborah Burn, Samuel Matthews, Chiara Pisapia, Andrew S. Hoey, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Coral abundance metrics do not fully reflect the mortality of coral communities, and the influence of major versus routine disturbances on coral assemblages is not well understood. A study in Australia's Coral Sea Marine Park found that the overall incidence of recent coral injury remained low during a mass bleaching event, but there were significant inter-annual changes in the taxonomic hierarchy for injury incidence. Different coral genera and size classes exhibited varying levels of recent injury, highlighting the vulnerability of large colonies and the possibility of shifts in community size structure. Continued assessment of recent injuries is crucial for understanding the vulnerability of coral communities to future disturbances and changing environmental conditions.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bethan J. Lang, Jennifer M. Donelson, Ciemon F. Caballes, Sven Uthicke, Peter C. Doll, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: The study found that 32 degrees Celsius exceeds the thermal optimum of the crown-of-thorns starfish, suggesting that prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding this level, which are expected under near-future climate change, may be detrimental to this species.
Article
Ecology
Mike McWilliam, Maria Dornelas, Mariana Alvarez-Noriega, Andrew H. Baird, Sean R. Connolly, Joshua S. Madin
Summary: Life-history traits are useful in predicting species commonness and rarity, but species with similar traits can still have significant differences in abundance. Understanding the combined effects of multiple traits on population dynamics is crucial for predicting species commonness and rarity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. I. Blandford, K. B. Hillcoat, M. S. Pratchett, A. S. Hoey
Summary: The combined effects of global climate change and local anthropogenic stressors are leading to loss and fragmentation of habitats, which in turn influence the survival of coral reef fish populations. The degree of habitat fragmentation affects the early post-settlement survival of reef fish, with moderate levels having the greatest influence.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bethan J. Lang, Ciemon F. Caballes, Sven Uthicke, Peter C. Doll, Jennifer M. Donelson, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Research has shown that ocean warming has negative impacts on the settlement and metamorphic success of crown-of-thorns starfish, and even cooler temperatures can affect their survival rates. In warmer ocean environments, metamorphic success and early post-settlement survival are significantly reduced, potentially presenting a bottleneck for recruitment in coral reefs.
Article
Ecology
Sterling B. Tebbett, Sean R. Connolly, David R. Bellwood
Summary: By analyzing a global dataset of coral reef benthic cover, the authors found that high macroalgal cover is mainly restricted to the Western Atlantic, and there have also been significant declines in coral cover in the Western Atlantic and Central Pacific since the late 1990s. Understanding the composition and trajectory of coral reef benthic communities is crucial for managing Anthropocene coral reefs, as they are at the forefront of environmental transformation caused by human-induced stressors.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Renato A. Morais, Patrick Smallhorn-West, Sean R. Connolly, Poasi Fale Ngaluafe, Siola'a Malimali, Tu'ikolongahau Halafihi, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Fishing-induced biomass depletion is common on coral reefs, but the fisheries persist due to compensatory ecological responses. A study in Tonga found that even though high fishing exploitation led to declines in biomass, the productivity was consistently larger than expected. This "buffering productivity" accounted for a significant proportion of coral reef fisheries yields. However, the sustainability of these yields may be jeopardized by climate change impacts.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sarah Lok Ting Kwong, Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, Morgan Pratchett, Sven Uthicke
Summary: Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns seastar pose a perennial threat to Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Telomere length can be used to estimate age in CoTS, with adult individuals generally exhibiting shorter telomeres than juveniles. However, there is variation within age groups and no significant relationship has been found between telomere length and external features indicating age. Additionally, sub-optimal diet results in accelerated telomere attrition in CoTS.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mahery Randrianarivo, Radonirina Lebely Botosoamananto, Lucie Penin, Gildas Todinanahary, Mehdi Adjeroud
Summary: Recruitment is crucial for coral assemblages, and the influence of pre- and post-settlement processes on spatial heterogeneity of adults needs to be determined. We examined the density of juveniles and adults among 18 stations in three regions near Madagascar and assessed the impact of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Our findings did not show a significant positive effect of MPAs on juveniles, except for Porites at the study scale. However, the MPA effect was more pronounced for adults, especially for Acropora, Montipora, Seriatopora, and Porites at the regional scale. The correlation between juvenile and adult densities suggests recruitment-limitation relationships for several coral taxa, and highlights the need for conservation measures to specifically protect recruitment processes.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Zamborain-Mason, Joshua E. Cinner, M. Aaron Macneil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Andrew S. Hoey, Maria Beger, Andrew J. Brooks, David J. Booth, Graham J. Edgar, David A. Feary, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, Alan M. Friedlander, Charlotte L. A. Gough, Alison L. Green, David Mouillot, Nicholas V. C. Polunin, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Laurent Wantiez, Ivor D. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson, Sean R. Connolly
Summary: Sustainably managing fisheries requires evaluation of stock status, but many multispecies reef fisheries lack research and monitoring capacity to assess stocks against sustainable reference points. In this study, fish biomass data from >2000 coral reefs were used to estimate site-specific sustainable reference points for coral reef fisheries. The results show that >50% of sites and jurisdictions with available information have stocks of conservation concern. The study highlights the ecological benefits of increasing sustainability and provides a promising means for enhancing the sustainability of global coral reef fisheries.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Bethan J. Lang, Jennifer M. Donelson, Kevin R. Bairos-Novak, Carolyn R. Wheeler, Ciemon F. Caballes, Sven Uthicke, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Rising ocean temperatures pose a threat to marine species, with ectothermic organisms being particularly vulnerable. A meta-analysis of 85 studies reveals that ocean warming generally accelerates metabolic rate and reduces survival in echinoderms, with subtropical and tropical regions being the most vulnerable. The analysis also highlights the significant vulnerability of echinoderm larvae and starfish under elevated temperatures.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Morgan S. Pratchett, Ciemon F. Caballes, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Joseph D. DiBattista, Brock Bergseth, Peter Waldie, Curtis Champion, Samuel P. Mc Cormack, Andrew S. Hoey
Summary: This study explored the variation in physiological condition of common coral trout on Australia's Great Barrier Reef after severe mass bleaching and coral loss. The results showed that fish condition was largely influenced by fish size and varied with latitude, while there was no apparent effect of recent coral bleaching on the physiological condition of the fish. However, further changes to the environmental conditions and reef habitat may impact these important fisheries species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy Carlot, Michalis Vousdoukas, Alessio Rovere, Theofanis Karambas, Hunter S. Lenihan, Mohsen Kayal, Mehdi Adjeroud, Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Laetitia Hedouin, Valeriano Parravicini
Summary: Coral reefs provide natural coastal protection by reducing the energy of incoming waves. Combining coral disturbance-recovery observations with hydrodynamic models, this study quantifies how structural complexity dissipates wave energy. The findings reveal that halving the structural complexity of healthy coral reefs leads to a 50-fold increase in extreme wave run-up heights that occur once in a 100-year period, posing threats to reef-backed coastal communities in terms of increased waves, erosion, and flooding.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Peter C. Doll, Sven Uthicke, Ciemon F. Caballes, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Bethan J. Lang, So Young Jeong, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) can cause extensive degradation of coral reefs, threatening their structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that various coralline algae species play a role in inducing COTS larvae to settle, but their effectiveness varies greatly. Considering larval behavior and algal ecology, this study highlights the ecological significance of coralline algae communities in driving COTS recruitment patterns.